The winning plan demonstrated understanding of the site, history and context, offered exceptional design flair and innovation, and exhibited excellent understanding of Green Infrastructure. In addition the design was quirky and fun. The design entitled The Promenade of Curiosities, focuses on the creation of a Vauxhall Walkway and improvement to the Vauxhall Gardens and Railway Arches.

The competition was judged by a panel of high profile figures (including Sue Illman, President of Landscape Institute, Stephen Crisp, Head Gardener to the US Ambassador, Christopher Woodward, Director of the Garden Museum and Doreen Lawrence, mother of Stephen Lawrence) and entries were judged on a number of criteria including opportunities for green intervention, inventiveness, viability and complimenting of existing planning to ensure a joined up and considered public realm for the entire area.

The aim is to create a striking new identity for the area in and around Vauxhall – a stretch of land dubbed the ‘Missing Link’ between the new US Embassy and London’s South Bank. Vauxhall is at the heart of Nine Elms on the South Bank, the £15 billion opportunity area between Lambeth Bridge and Chelsea Bridge which includes Vauxhall town centre, the new US Embassy and Battersea Power Station.